Hologram read system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hologram read system capable of viewing a minute object that is authentication information located behind a block object in a specific direction alone, that is, a hologram read system adapted to view a minute object from a hologram wherein the minute object located behind a block object is recorded such that the minute object is blocked off by the block object and invisible upon viewing in a given direction, but visible from a direction different from said given direction. The hologram read system here comprises a light block housing  22  open at both its ends. A lighting substrate  23  with a viewing window  24  provided in its center is located at a given distance from the lower end  22   d.  A magnifying lens  25  adapted to magnify and view a hologram image constructed from the hologram located facing an opening at the lower end  22   d  is attached over the upper end  22   u . Arrays  40   1   , 40   2  of point light sources adapted to emit visible light are located at the lower surface of the lighting substrate  23  except for the viewing window  24 , so that the any point light source in them can be selectively put on.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a hologram read system, andmore particularly to a read system for a hologram in whichauthentication information hard to view in a normal viewing state isrecorded.

Patent Publication 1 has come up with a hologram with improved forgeryprevention effects, in which authentication information is recorded insuch a way as to be hard to view in a normal viewing state. According tothat hologram with the authentication information recorded, a minuteobject that is the authentication information is located behind a blockobject of an easily visible size, so that when the hologram is viewed ina given viewing direction, the authentication information is kept out ofsight in the presence of the block object, but it is visible in anotherviewing direction. Accordingly, the presence of the authenticationinformation is hardly noticeable, and even when the hologram is viewedon a magnified scale by magnifying and viewing means such as a loupe,the presence of the authentication information is hardly noticeable in agiven direction that is a normal viewing direction. Thus, whether theauthentication information is concealed or not is unlikely to benoticeable, making sure improved forgery prevention effects. PatentPublication 1 has also come up with an authentication information checksystem wherein a hologram and a camera adapted to magnify and view theauthentication information recorded in the hologram are fixedly located,and a lighting device for directing reconstructing illumination light tothe hologram is located in a relatively movable way, so that theauthentication information can be checked up.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-7126 filed byApplicant discloses a fluorescent read system for an informationrecorded medium using a material capable of emitting visiblefluorescence.

Patent Publication 1

JP(A) 2003-228270

As regards the authentication information check system shown in PatentPublication 1, however, there is nothing specific disclosed about thearrangement, moving mechanism, etc. of the lighting device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of such situations with the prior art as described above, it isan object of the invention to provide a read system for a hologramwherein a minute object for authentication information is located behinda block object so that the minute object can be viewed from a specificdirection alone.

According to the invention, the above object is achievable by theprovision of a hologram read system adapted to view a minute object froma hologram wherein the minute object located behind a block object isrecorded such that the minute object is blocked off by the block objectand invisible upon viewing in a given direction, but visible from adirection different from said given direction, characterized bycomprising a light block housing open at an upper end and a lower end,wherein a lighting substrate with a viewing window provided in a centeris located within said light block housing at a given distance from, andsubstantially parallel with, said lower end, a magnifying lens adaptedto magnify and view a hologram image reconstructed from said hologramthrough said viewing window and located facing an opening at said lowerend is attached over an opening at said upper end or a camera capable ofmagnifying and viewing said reconstructed hologram image is detachablyattached there-over, and an array of point light sources adapted to emitvisible light is located on a lower surface of said lighting substrateexcept for said viewing window, so that any point light source in saidarray of point light sources can be selectively put on.

The invention also provides a hologram read system adapted to view aminute object from a hologram wherein the minute object located behind ablock object is recorded such that the minute object is blocked off bythe block object and invisible upon viewing in a given direction, butvisible from a direction different from said given direction,characterized by comprising a light block housing open at an upper endand a lower end, wherein a lighting substrate with a viewing windowprovided in a center is located within said light block housing at agiven distance from, and substantially parallel with, said lower end, amagnifying lens adapted to magnify and view a hologram imagereconstructed from said hologram through said viewing window and locatedfacing an opening at said lower end is attached over an opening at saidupper end or a camera capable of magnifying and viewing saidreconstructed hologram image is detachably attached there-over, and asingle or multiple point light sources adapted to emit visible light arelocated on a lower surface of said lighting substrate except for saidviewing window in such a way as to be movable said lower surface.

In the first hologram read system, said array of point light sourcescould comprise one linear array that extends in a direction tangent tothe periphery of said viewing window, two linear arrays that extend in adirection tangent to the periphery of said viewing window, one or two ormore linear arrays that extend in a direction tangent to the peripheryof said viewing window and one or two or more linear arrays that extendin a diametrical direction of said viewing window, a circular arraylocated around said viewing window, or a rectangular array locatedaround said viewing window.

In the hologram read system of the invention, said point light sourcescould each be made up of, for instance, a white light emitting diode.

Said light block housing could have a substantially circular orrectangular section parallel with the lower end.

Preferably at a given position of the outer surface of said light blockhousing, there is an alignment mark located.

In one preferable embodiment, an infrared light source adapted tovisualize information that is invisible under visible light butvisualized by excitation with infrared light, or an ultraviolet lightsource adapted to visualize information that is invisible under visiblelight but visualized by excitation with ultraviolet light is locatedbelow said lighting substrate except for said viewing window.

According to the hologram read system as recited above, a hologramwherein a minute object is recorded, said minute object located behind ablock object and taking an authentication information role, isilluminated with light in such a way as to make the minute objectvisible. While ambient light is blocked off by the light block housing,a magnifying lens or camera is used to magnify and view a hologram imagefor authentication information upon reconstruction by illuminatinglight. It is thus possible to view the authentication information in avisual, stable yet easy way.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of theinvention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is illustrative of how one exemplary hologram with authenticationinformation recorded in it works so as to give an account of theprinciples of the hologram read system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exterior view of the hologram read system.

FIG. 3 is illustrative in vertical section of the hologram read system.

FIG. 4 is illustrative of only a lighting substrate taken out of thehologram read system, as viewed from its lower end side.

FIG. 5 is illustrative of how a hologram works, which hologram has aplurality of sets each comprising a block object and a minute objectrecorded in it.

FIG. 6 is illustrative of a point light source array located on thelighting substrate of the hologram read system adapted to read thehologram of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is illustrative of a point light source array located on thelighting substrate of the hologram read system adapted to read areflection type volume hologram.

FIG. 8 is illustrative of another example of the point light sourcearray located on the lighting substrate of the hologram read system.

FIG. 9 is illustrative of yet another example of the point light sourcearray located on the lighting substrate of the hologram read system.

FIG. 10 is illustrative of the direction of movement of point lightsources of the hologram read system adapted to read authenticationinformation by the mechanical movement of point light sources along thelower surface of the lighting substrate.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrative of one exemplary arrangementfor successively putting on point light sources along the array.

FIG. 12 is illustrative of one exemplary mechanism for the mechanicalmovement of point light sources.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the hologram read system, and aperspective view of the lighting substrate for the purpose ofillustrating a modification to the hologram read system of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The principles and examples of the hologram read system according to theinvention will now be explained.

First of all, a hologram with authentication information recorded in it,such as the one proposed in Patent Publication 1, will briefly beexplained, and the principles of the hologram read system of theinvention will then be explained. FIG. 1 is illustrative of the actionof one exemplary hologram with authentication information recorded init, as set forth typically in Patent Publication 1. FIG. 1(a) is a viewas viewed from above, and FIG. 1(b) is a view as viewed from the rightside. As reconstruction illuminating light 1 is incident on a hologram10 from the front (FIG. 1(a) ) as viewed horizontally, and from above atan angle θ with respect to a normal as viewed vertically, it permitsdiffracted light 2 from the hologram 10 to be diffracted about thefrontal direction, so that a block object 12 of an easily visible sizeis reconstructed in front of the hologram 10, and a minute object 11that is authentication information is reconstructed in the rear of thehologram 10. Because of the fact that the minute object 11 is positionedbehind the block object 12, however, the minute object 11 is blocked offby the block object 12; it is not visible to the eye E of a viewerpositioned in the frontal direction. As the viewer moves the eye E ineither one of the right and left directions, the minute object 11 comesfrom behind the block object 12, and so the viewer can view it.

Instead, as the direction of incidence of the reconstructingillumination light 1 is fixed in the vertical direction and its angle φto a normal is changed in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG.1(a), the direction of diffraction of the diffracted light 2, too,changes by about the angle φ in the horizontally opposite direction, sothat there is a displacement in the positions where the minute object 11and block object 12 are reconstructed. The block object 12 positioned infront of (before) the hologram 10 moves in the direction opposite to thedirection of movement of the reconstructing illumination light 1, andthe minute object 11 positioned in the rear of (behind) the hologram 10moves in the same direction as the direction of movement of thereconstructing illumination light 1. As a result, there is a change inthe horizontally relative positions of the block object 12 and minuteobject 11, so that the minute object 11 is not blocked off by the blockobject 12, and so becomes visible to the viewer's eye E positioned inthe frontal direction of the hologram 10.

The hologram 10 is prepared in the form of a reflection type reliefhologram with a reflective layer provided on its relief or back surface,or a reflection type volume hologram. However, the reflection typerelief hologram is constructed in the form of a rainbow hologram thatcan be reconstructed with white light or incoherent light. When thehologram 10 is constructed as the reflection type volume hologram,information about the relative positions of the block object 12 andminute object 11 is recorded in it in not only the horizontal directionbut also the vertical direction, so that even when the reconstructingillumination light 1 is vertically moved, the minute object 11 is againnot blocked off by the block object 12, and so becomes visible to theviewer's eye E positioned in the frontal direction. When the hologram 10is constructed as the rainbow hologram, however, three-dimensionalinformation is recorded in it in the horizontal direction alone; whenthe reconstructing illumination light 1 goes up or down, the minuteobject 11 remains out of sight.

Now, some embodiments of the hologram read system according to theinvention used to embody such principles are explained. FIG. 2 is aschematic exterior view of the hologram read system, and FIG. 3 isillustrative in vertical section of the hologram read system. In ahologram read system 20 of the invention, a main component 21 of thehologram read system is connected with a control device 26 by way of aconnecting cord 27, as shown in the exterior view of FIG. 2. The maincomponent 21 comprises a cylindrical form of light block housing 22 openat its upper end 22 u and lower end 22 d. Within the housing 22, asubstrate 23 for lighting purposes (hereinafter called the lightingsubstrate) with a center viewing window 24 is mounted at a givendistance from, and parallel with, the lower end 22 d, and a magnifyinglens 25 capable of magnifying and viewing a reconstructed hologram imageis mounted over an opening at the upper end 22 u. The outside of thelight block housing 22 could be in a cylindrical, truncated conical,polyhedral cylindrical or other like configuration. At a given positionon the outer surface of the light block housing 22, there is analignment mark 28 provided, which facilitates alignment of the directionof the hologram read system with the hologram 10. And then, to enable ahologram image reconstructed from the hologram 10 to be magnified andviewed with such a hologram read system 20, an information recordedmedium having the hologram 10, wherein such authentication informationas described above is recorded on the surface of, for instance, asubstrate 31, is brought in contact with the opening at the lower end 22d of the light block housing 22 while the hologram 10 is positionedwithin the opening at the lower end 22 d.

The illumination light source located on the lighting substrate 23 isnow explained. FIG. 4 is illustrative of only the lighting substrate 23removed out of the housing 22, as viewed from the lower end 22 d side.The outside shape of the lighting substrate 23 is in conformity with theinside shape of the light block housing 22. In the embodiment here,however, it is illustrated in a rectangular form for brevity. In themiddle of the lighting substrate 23, there is the viewing window 24provided, and a linear point light source array 40 comprising aplurality of point light sources 29 ₁, 29 ₂, . . . , 29 _(n) such aswhite LEDs is located near the upper edge of that viewing window 24. Thelighting substrate 23 is fitted in the light block housing 22 such thatwhen the information-recorded medium 30 is viewed with the alignmentmark 28 in alignment with the upper direction of the hologram 10, thepoint light source array 40 is oriented in alignment with theleft-and-right transverse direction. The distance of the point lightsource array 40 from the center of the viewing window 24 is determinedsuch that when the center point light source 29 _(c), in the point lightsource array 40 is put on, the minute object 11 and block object 12 arereconstructed at positions indicated by solid lines in FIG. 1; that is,light from the point light source 29 c becomes the reconstructingillumination light 1 that falls from above at the angle θ to the normalto the hologram 10.

As the point light source array 40 comprising such point light sources29 ₁, 29 ₂, . . . , 29 _(n) is located in the transverse direction andthe point light sources 29 ₁, 29 ₂, . . . , 29 _(n) in the array aresuccessively put on from right to left or left to right or the pointlight source near the left or right end of the point light source array40 is selectively put on, it permits the minute object 11 that is theauthentication information hidden off by the block object 12 to bemagnified through the magnifying lens 25 and read from the front.

In some cases, a plurality of sets of block object 12 and minute object11 to be reconstructed with a plurality of reconstructing illuminationlight beams having different angles of incidence are recorded in thehologram 10, as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5(a) is a view of the hologram 10as viewed from above; FIG. 5(b) is a view of a hologram portionreconstructed with one reconstructing illumination light 1 ₁ as viewedfrom the right side; and FIG. 5(c) is a view of a hologram portionreconstructed with another reconstructing illumination light 1 ₂ asviewed from the right side. As the one reconstructing illumination light1 ₁ is incident from above on the hologram 10 at an angle θ₁ withrespect to the normal, it permits diffracted light 2 ₁ from the hologram10 to be diffracted about the frontal direction, so that a block object12 ₁, is reconstructed in front of the hologram 10, and a minute object11 ₁ is reconstructed in the rear of the hologram 10 while the minuteobject 11 ₁, is positioned behind the block object 12 ₁. As the anotherreconstructing illumination light 1 ₂ is incident from above on thehologram 10 at an angle θ₂ to the normal, said angle θ₂ different fromthe above angle θ₁, it permits diffracted light 2 ₂ from the hologram tobe diffracted about the frontal direction, so that another block object12 ₂ is reconstructed in front of the hologram 10 and another minuteobject 11 ₂ is reconstructed in the rear of the hologram 10 while theminute object 11 ₂ is positioned behind the block object 12 ₂.

In order to enables the minute objects 11 ₁, 11 ₂ that are theauthentication information for such a hologram 10 to be viewed from thefront, two rows of parallel point light source arrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ arelocated near the upper edge of the viewing window 24 in the lightingsubstrate 23, as shown in FIG. 6. The point light source arrays 40 ₁, 40₂ are oriented in the same left-and-right transverse direction as is thecase with the point light source array 40 of FIG. 4. The distance of onepoint light source array 40 ₁, from the center of the viewing window 24is determined such that when the point light source at the center ofthat array is put on, the minute object 11 ₁ and block object 12 ₁, inthe layout of FIG. 5(b) are reconstructed, and the distance of anotherpoint light source array 40 ₂ from the center of the viewing window 24is determined such that when the point light source at the center ofthat array is put on, the minute object 11 ₂ and block object 12 ₂ inthe layout of FIG. 5(c) are reconstructed.

As either one of such point light source arrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ issuccessively put on from right to left or left to right or the pointlight source near the left or right end of either one of the point lightsource arrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ is selectively put on, it permits the minuteobject 11 ₁, or 11 ₂ that is the authentication information hidden offby the block object 12 ₁, or 12 ₂ to be magnified through the magnifyinglens 25 and read from the front. Alternatively, as the point lightsources in both the point light source arrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ aresuccessively put on from right to left or left to right or the pointlight sources near the left or right ends of both the point light sourcearrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ are selectively put on, it permits the minute objects11 ₁ and 11 ₂ that are the authentication information hidden off by theblock objects 12 ₁, and 12 ₂ to be simultaneously magnified through themagnifying lens 25 and read from the front. It is noted that when thepoint light sources in the point light source array 40 ₁, and the pointlight sources in the point light source array 40 ₂ are put on at thesame time, reconstructed images are often viewed as they overlap eachother. In this case where the authentication information is hardly toview, it is preferable to selectively switch only one point light sourcearray on.

When the hologram 10 is the rainbow hologram as described above, thereis the three-dimensional information recorded in it in the horizontaldirection alone. In order to make it possible for the viewer to view theminute object 11, 11 ₁, 11 ₂ that is the authentication information fromthe front, it is only needed to extend the point light source array 40,40 ₁, 40 ₂ on the lighting substrate 23 in the horizontal direction ofthe hologram with the three-dimensional information recorded in it, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 6. However, when the hologram 10 is constructed asthe reflection type volume hologram, it is possible to view the minuteobject 11, 11 ₁, 11 ₂ from the front even upon vertical movement of thereconstructing illumination light 1, because the three-dimensionalinformation is recorded in it in not only the horizontal direction butalso the vertical direction. To this end, for instance, yet anotherpoint light source array 40 ₃ is located on the lighting substrate 23,which extends in a direction orthogonal to the point light source arrays40 ₁, 40 ₂. As the point light source array 40 ₃ is put on successivelyfrom the viewing window 24 side to the outside or the point light sourcearray near the outer end of the point light source 40 ₃ is selectivelyput on, it permits the minute objects 11, 11 ₁, 11 ₂ that is theauthentication information hidden off by the block objects 12, 12 ₁, 12₂ to be magnified through the magnifying lens 25 and viewed from thefront. It is noted that point light source arrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ in FIG. 7are provided to read two minute objects 11 ₁, 11 ₂ selectively orsimultaneously as is the case with the FIG. 6.

As described previously, at the given position of the outer surface ofthe light block housing 22, there is the alignment mark 24 provided soas to facilitate alignment of the reader system with the hologram 10.Instead for or in addition to such an alignment mark, one or multiplerows of point light source arrays 40 ₄, 40 ₅ may be located on thelighting substrate 23 around and coaxial with the viewing window 24, asshown in FIG. 8. In this case, there is an improvement in the degree offlexibility in the orientation of the light block housing 22 set withrespect to the hologram 10. And then, the outside shape of the lightblock housing 22 is preferably configured into a square in section inconformity with the orientation of the sides of the square point lightsource arrays 40 ₄, 40 ₅, because alignment of the hologram 10 with thelight block housing 22 is easily achievable.

It is also preferable that a circular array 40 ₆ of point light sourcesis located around and coaxial with the viewing window 24 as shown inFIG. 9, because there is no need of aligning the light block housing 22with the hologram 10. In this case, how the authentication informationcomes into sight is somewhat different from that in the case where anilluminating light source array is in a linearly arrangement; however,there is practically no problem.

In the foregoing embodiments, the point light source arrays 40 and 40₁-40 ₆ comprising a plurality of point light sources 29 ₁, 29 ₂, . . . ,29 _(n) such as white LEDs are used as the light sources for lightingthe hologram 10 located below the lower surface of the lightingsubstrate 23, and the point light sources 29 ₁, 29 ₂, . . . , 29 _(n)are successively put on along the array for optional selection andchange of the lighting position. However, it is also possible to locateone LED or other point light source or a plurality of LED or other pointsources corresponding to the number of point light source arrays at thelower surface of the lighting substrate 23 in such a way that theirmovement is controllable. In this case, if one or plural such pointlight sources are mechanically moved along the lower surface of thelighting substrate 23, it is then possible to move the illuminatingpoint light sources to a desired position to the hologram 10, therebyallowing the minute objects 11 ₁, 11 ₂ that are the authenticationinformation for the hologram to be viewed from the front. FIG. 10 isillustrative of one exemplary direction of movement to that end. Morespecifically, an example of FIG. 10(a) corresponds to FIG. 4, whereinone LED or other point light source 29 is located at the lower surfaceof the lighting substrate 23 in such a way as to be movable as indicatedby an arrow, and by moving that point light source 29 along a locuscorresponding to the point light source array 40 of FIG. 4, it ispossible to view the minute object 11. An example of FIG. 10(b)corresponds to FIG. 6, wherein two LED or other point light sources 29a, 29 b are located at the lower surface of the lighting substrate 23 insuch a way as to be movable as indicated by arrows, and by moving themalong loci corresponding to the point light source arrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ inFIG. 6, respectively, it is possible to view the minute objects 11 ₁, 11₂. It is understood that if there is one point light source 29 providedas in FIG. 10(a) and that one point light source 29 is moved along theloci corresponding to the point light source arrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ in FIG.6, it is then possible to selectively read two minute objects 11 ₁, 11₂. The same as in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) could apply to the movement ofone or two or more point light sources 29, 29 a, 29 b along the locicorresponding to the point light source arrays 40 ₁-40 ₆ in FIGS. 7 to9, too.

It is understood that the positions to which one or two or more pointlight sources 29, 29 a, 29 b are moved are not only on but also near theloci corresponding to the point light source arrays 40 and 40 ₁-40 ₆ inFIGS. 4 and 6-10, and that they are movable to an area between theadjacent loci.

In order to put on the point light sources 29 ₁, 29 ₂, . . . , 29 _(n)successively along the point light sources 40 and 40 ₁-40 ₆ in FIGS. 4and 6-9, it is preferable that such a rotary switch 41 as shown in FIG.11 is located in the control device 26 and that rotary switch 41 is usedto put on the point light sources 29 ₁, 29 ₂, . . . , 29 _(n)successively in this order. And of course, an electronic changeoverswitch could be used to the same purpose, too.

For the mechanism by which the point light sources 29, 29 a, 29 b inFIG. 10 are moved, various mechanical moving mechanisms could be used.For instance, in order to move one point light source 29 on a simplelinear locus, it is preferable that the point light source 29 isattached integrally to one point on a belt 44 extending between pulleys43 ₁, and 43 ₂, and the movement of the belt 44 is controlled by controlof rotation of a motor 45 adapted to rotate one pulley 43 ₂, as shown inFIG. 12(a) In order to provide free movement of one point light source29 along a two-dimensional plane on any desired locus, it is preferablethat the point light source 29 is attached to one point on an X-Y table46 that is controllable to any desired position by means of a motor 47 xadapted to move it in the X direction and a motor 47 y adapted to moveit in the Y direction, as shown in FIG. 12(b).

To add to this, an infrared light source capable of visualizing andviewing information that remains invisible under visible light but isvisualized by excitation with infrared light may be located at anydesired position below the lighting substrate 23 except for the viewingwindow 24, as is the case with the fluorescent reader system set forthin Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-7126. One example is nowexplained with reference to FIG. 13(a) that is a sectional view of thereader system and FIG. 13(b) that is a perspective view of the lightingsubstrate. In this example, a plurality of infrared light emitting LEDs48 capable of emitting infrared excitation light are located insidepoint light source arrays 40 ₁, 40 ₂ comprising hologram-read white LEDsor the like located at the lower surface of the lighting substrate 23and around the viewing window 24. When information drawn by afluorescent material that is visualized by infrared excitation light islocated facing an opening in the lower end 22 d of the main component 21of the reader system for reading purposes, point light sources 40 ₁, 40₂ in the visible range are put off while the infrared light emission LED48 is put on.

While the hologram read system of the invention has been described withreference to its principles and examples, it is understood that theinvention is not limited thereto and many modification could be madethereto. With the hologram read system of the invention, it is possiblenot only to magnify and view a reconstructed image in a visual way butalso to use a TV camera through which a reconstructed image is magnifiedand viewed. To this end, while the magnifying lens 25 remains attachedto the upper end 22 u of the light block housing 22 or after themagnifying lens 25 is taken out, it is preferable to locate the TVcamera in place. Further, an ultraviolet light source capable ofvisualizing information that remains invisible under visible light butis visualized by excitation with ultraviolet light could be provided inplace.

1. A hologram read system adapted to view a minute object from ahologram wherein the minute object located behind a block object isrecorded such that the minute object is blocked off by the block objectand invisible upon viewing in a given direction, but visible from adirection different from said given direction, characterized bycomprising a light block housing open at an upper end and a lower end,wherein a lighting substrate with a viewing window provided in a centeris located within said light block housing at a given distance from, andsubstantially parallel with, said lower end, a magnifying lens adaptedto magnify and view a hologram image reconstructed from said hologramthrough said viewing window, said hologram being located facing anopening at said lower end, is attached over an opening at said upper endor a camera capable of magnifying and viewing said reconstructedhologram image is detachably attached there-over, and an array of pointlight sources adapted to emit visible light is located on a lowersurface of said lighting substrate except for said viewing window, sothat any point light source in said array of point light sources can beselectively put on.
 2. A hologram read system adapted to view a minuteobject from a hologram wherein the minute object located behind a blockobject is recorded such that the minute object is blocked off by theblock object and invisible upon viewing in a given direction, butvisible from a direction different from said given direction,characterized by comprising a light block housing open at an upper endand a lower end, wherein a lighting substrate with a viewing windowprovided in a center is located within said light block housing at agiven distance from, and substantially parallel with, said lower end, amagnifying lens adapted to magnify and view a hologram imagereconstructed from said hologram through said viewing window, saidhologram being located facing an opening at said lower end, is attachedover an opening at said upper end or a camera capable of magnifying andviewing said reconstructed hologram image is detachably attachedthere-over, and a single or multiple point light sources adapted to emitvisible light are located on a lower surface of said lighting substrateexcept for said viewing window in such a way as to be movable said lowersurface.
 3. The hologram read system according to claim 1, characterizedin that said array of point light sources comprises one linear arraythat extends in a direction tangent to a periphery of said viewingwindow.
 4. The hologram read system according to claim 1, characterizedin that said array of point light sources comprises two linear arraysthat extend in a direction tangent to a periphery of said viewingwindow.
 5. The hologram read system according to claim 1, characterizedin that said array of point light sources comprises one or two or morelinear arrays that extend in a direction tangent to a periphery of saidviewing window and one or two or more linear arrays that extend in adiametrical direction of said viewing window.
 6. The hologram readsystem according to claim 1, characterized in that said array of pointlight sources comprises a circular array located around said viewingwindow.
 7. The hologram read system according to claim 1, characterizedin that said array of point light sources comprises a rectangular arraylocated around said viewing window.
 8. The hologram read systemaccording to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said pointlight sources each comprises made up of a white light emitting diode. 9.The hologram read system according to any one of claims 1 to 2,characterized in that said light block housing has a substantiallycircular section parallel with said lower end.
 10. The hologram readsystem according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that saidlight block housing has a substantially rectangular section parallelwith said lower end.
 11. The hologram read system according to any oneof claims 1 to 2, characterized in that an alignment mark is provided ata given position of an outer surface of said light block housing. 12.The hologram read system according to any one of claims 1 to 2,characterized in that an infrared light source adapted to visualizeinformation that is invisible under visible light but visualized byexcitation with infrared light is located below said lighting substrateexcept for said viewing window.
 13. The hologram read system accordingto any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that an ultraviolet lightsource adapted to visualize information that is invisible under visiblelight but visualized by excitation with ultraviolet light is locatedbelow said lighting substrate except for said viewing window.